Here’s a sneak peek into the introduction chapter of the completely updated and streamlined CHEC Guidebook – A Comprehensive Guide to Home Education in Colorado. We hope you’ll visit us on the blog each week as we share an excerpt from one of the chapters. This classic go-to compendium is available for preorder now.

What is Homeschooling?

Mention home education to a group of people and you will receive a wide variety of responses. It seems that everyone has a different perspective. Some visualize a room in a home with a chalkboard, a flag, and several desks. Others see children sitting on a sofa or at the kitchen table with textbooks spread around. Still others think of trips to museums or the park, or children learning as they help Dad with a carpentry project.

So, what is the definition of homeschooling? It is the educating of children in their own home by their parents or guardians (or another adult relative). There are as many styles of homeschooling as there are families. While this guidebook cannot answer every question, it is intended to give you enough information, or sources for information, to help you make wise decisions concerning the education of your children at home.

Any experienced homeschool parent can tell you that teaching your children at home is hard work. With everyone home all the time, relationships are fine-tuned daily, and your house will show wear and tear. Some mornings you might not “feel” like doing school work. Strong commitment is needed to weather these stresses.

However, there is more joy in home education than you ever realized was possible: helping your child read his or her first book, developing lasting relationships with your children, and discovering the beauty and wisdom of God’s creation together.

Veteran homeschool parents will also tell you that the greatest joys are yet to come, when you launch your children into adulthood knowing they are well educated, spiritually mature, loving individuals, who will be useful servants of the Lord.

Use this guidebook in whatever way best suits your needs. Beginners may choose to read it straight through from beginning to end. Veterans might choose according to their current needs. Many chapters will be an on-going resource which you will refer to again and again.

Chapter is continued in the CHEC Homeschool Guidebook.

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